Baltimore Humane Society Memorial Park

Losing a pet can be a very painful time for anyone. We recognize that pets are family. They come into our lives and bring tremendous joy and happiness, and when they leave, they often impart a great sadness upon us. We understand and are here to help.

Baltimore Humane Society offers memorial services and a final resting place for your pets at its pet cemetery, located on the grounds of our Wildlife Sanctuary. Baltimore Humane Society Memorial Park provides a serene setting for individuals to remember and share their love for a beloved family pet. We also offer a variety of bereavement support services and tributes to remember and honor your pet.

An Extension of Your CareProviding a final place for your friend to rest, or a memorial recognition at Baltimore Humane Society Memorial Park, does more than demonstrate your love for your pet. It also shows your compassion and understanding for the pets in our care at the Humane Society, as all proceeds from our memorial services support the life-saving efforts of the Humane Society’s adoption and spay/neuter programs. Your final gesture of love for your pet helps assure the life and love of many more pets at the Humane Society. Thank you.

Contact UsWe can be reached by phone, email or fax.
Our Memorial Park offices are open Monday-Friday from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm.

Option of receiving the cremains in an ornate wooden urn or interring them within Baltimore Humane Society Memorial Park.
Special arrangements may be made for individuals wishing to spread the pet’s ashes with the purchase of a tribute stone to be placed in one of our Memorial Walkways.

Ask about our cremation urns and keepsake jewelry.

Pet Transportation

We ask that if you are bringing your pet for burial or cremation, that you arrive before4:30 p.m. unless other arrangements are made in advance.

If you are unable to transport your pet, it can be arranged for a member of our staff to pick them up from home or veterinary officeMondaythroughFriday.

Learn a little more about the life of a Pet Funeral Director in aBaltimore Magazine articleprofiling past Memorial Director, Andrew Mazan.

Bereavement Counseling & Support

“May it make your sorrow easier for you to bear knowing there are other who understand and care.”
–Unknown Author

Baltimore Humane Society Memorial Park takes the loss of your pet seriously, and believes in doing all we can to help you through this difficult time. We understand how devastating it can be to lose a companion pet. To help you with your grief we offer several different complimentary services.

Immediate Private Counseling

This is a one-time session with a counselor if you feel the need for some extra help dealing with the loss of your pet. We will put you in touch with the counselor and you can make an appointment to meet in person or over the telephone. Following the session, you’ll have the option to continue for a small fee.

Bereavement Support Group

*Please note that due to the holiday on January 1, BHS offices will be closed. Our support group will meet on the following Tuesday in January, January 8 at 7:00 pm. Please update your calendars, plan accordingly and RSVP by January 7. Thank you so much.

The Baltimore Humane Society Memorial Park holds a monthly bereavement group to help you cope with the loss or extreme illness of a pet. Anyone whose pet has died, has a pet who has been lost, or is ailing or aging is welcome to join the group at any time. Members take comfort in sharing with others going through the same difficult experience.

The group is a safe haven where individuals can freely talk about their pet knowing others are interested in hearing their story. It is a place of emotional and practical support helping participants cope with their loss. Please join our free, non-denominational group, led by a Bereavement Counselor. You do not need to have your pet buried in Baltimore Humane Society Memorial Park to join the group. All are welcome! Readmorein an article about the group.

The group meets the first Tuesday evening of each month at7 pmfor one hour.

The Baltimore Humane Society Memorial Park also offers a number of books to pet owners as an added resource.

Tributes to Remember & Honor Your Pet

The Baltimore Humane Society Memorial Park offers several different tributes to remember and honor your pet’s memory or other loved ones. Your support will improve the Humane Society’s capacity to care for and protect our community’s homeless and needy pets. You can also preserve your pet’s memory through planned giving. Please contact our Memorial Park Director, Veronica VanHof, at vvanhof@bmorehumane.org to arrange for any or all of the following.

Tribute Stones

Tribute stones are a lovely way to permanently honor your pet. These beautiful customize stones are displayed along the Memorial Park entrance pathway.

These beautiful likenesses of your furry friend, family, or any favorite object (view our detailed images) are 6”x9”, made with any full color photo along with custom text and design. These great stones are perfect for existing furry family members or ones who have passed on to the Rainbow Bridge. They make great additions to any pet lover’s garden. All proceeds go to care for the homeless animals at Baltimore Humane Society’s no-kill shelter.

Perfect for shelves, desks, bookends, and in gardens. Preserve your favorite photos and memories on stone or slate, beautiful either indoors or out. Your favorite photos on striking customized stone!

This is a custom-ordered item. For more information call 410-833-8848, ext. 219 or email vvanhof@bmorehumane.org for design details.

Pet PortraitsA portrait created by local artist, Joanna Barnum. It is a beautiful way to memorialize your beloved pet.

Pawprint Keepsakes
We also offer Pawprint Keepsakes in four different colors for families who wish to take home a small remembrance of their pets.
Pawprint keepsakes are $20.00 and they come in your choice of soft white and almond “shimmer” clays. They can be made to include a ribbon for hanging or they can be displayed on a stand or in a shadowbox.

Transportation Service

For pets that need to be picked up from a veterinary hospital or home, there is no fee within a six mile radius of BHS.
There is a 50-dollar fee for transportation within a 6-15 mile radius of BHS and a transportation fee of $100 for a greater radius within the Baltimore area. Monday through Friday only.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does this all work?
You can call our funeral-services counselor any time Monday through Friday from 9 am until 5 pm to discuss arrangements. Your pet, your connection to each other and your family are unique and we can customize your plans to fit your wishes. Email: cemetery@bmorehumane.org or call us at 410-833-8848 extension 219.Do I bring my pet to you?
You can. Or we can transport your pet from home or veterinary hospital.Are there payment options?
Absolutely. When you pre-plan, we can take a deposit and accept payments by phone, through the mail and in person. Your information is always safe with us. You can even visit us for a short tour of our memorial park, pick out your favorite location and reserve it – even years in advance – knowing that it is there for your family when you need it. We will keep a record of your pet’s space and even place a temporary marker there, if you wish, with your family name on it.Why should I pre-plan?
We at the Baltimore Humane Society know the connections you have with your companion animals, because we have them, too. They are not “just pets”, they are family, best friends, road-trip companions and sleeping buddies. They are part of every small moment of our day and when we lose them, having to make plans and decisions can be an unnecessary added stress. When you pre-plan, you can arrange everything and pre-pay so that when you do need our services, we can handle everything for you.What are my burial options?
When you choose Baltimore Humane Society Memorial Park, you can feel assured that your pet’s burial is personal and customizable. You can choose from our pet casket options, from simple to elaborate to eco-friendly and biodegradable; you can choose to inter your pet wrapped with his or her favorite blanket; with his or her favorite toys and anything else you can think of. Add letters, cards, flowers. This is YOUR memorial to your pet. Make it personal.Do you have rules and restrictions on memorial stones and decorations?
No. Your pet’s space is yours and theirs. Many of our families keep things unadorned and many other families add garden fencing, custom memorial stones, plants, flowers, stuffed animals, garden flags and more. We want you to feel comfortable making it personal.Can we have a wake or viewing? Do we HAVE to have a wake or viewing?
We offer a quiet and comfortable inside space if you wish to hold a small wake for your pet, with or without a viewing and a time to say “goodbye”. We offer a small hospitality station with tea, chairs and a couch, candles, flowers and anything else you want.
You can also meet us graveside to say your farewells, place personal items with your pet, say prayers or read stories or poems.
Some families prefer to visit only when their pet’s memorial stone comes in or even weeks later. It is all up to you. We all grieve differently and we all handle our loss in our own ways.